Lepus (constellation)
Lepus is a constellation south of the celestial equator. Its name is Latin for hare. The hare is not from any figure in Greek mythology. Lepus was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy. It is one of the 88 modern constellations. It is below the constellation Orion (the hunter). It is known as a hare being chased by Orion.[1]
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| List of stars in Lepus | |
| Abbreviation: | Lep |
| Genitive: | Leporis |
| Symbology: | |
| Right ascension: | 6 h |
| Declination: | −20° |
| Area: | 290 sq. deg. (51st) |
| Main stars: | 8 |
| Bayer/Flamsteed stars: | 20 |
| Stars known to have planets: | 3 |
| Bright stars: | 2 |
| Nearby stars: | 3 |
| Brightest star: | α Lep (Arneb) (2.58m) |
| Nearest star: | Gliese 229 ( ly) |
| Messier objects: | 1 |
| Meteor showers: | None |
| Bordering constellations: | Orion Monoceros Canis Major Columba Caelum Eridanus |
| Visible at latitudes between +63° and −90° Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of January | |
This constellation should not be mixed up with Lupus, the wolf.
Notable features
Deep-sky objects
- IC 418 is a planetary nebula located about 1,100 light years away.
- There is one Messier Object in Lepus, M79. It is a globular cluster of magnitude 8.0, 42,000 light-years from Earth. It is one of the few globular clusters seen in the Northern Hemisphere winter.
References
- ↑ "Skys & Telescope: March 2008", Southern Hemisphere Highlights: by Shermend
Further reading
- Allen, R. H. (1899). Star-names and Their Meanings. New York: G. E. Stechart.
- Kunitzsch, P.; Smart T. (2006). A Dictionary of Modern Star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations. Cambridge (USA): Sky Publishing Corp.
- Levy, David H. (2005). Deep Sky Objects. Prometheus Books. ISBN 1-59102-361-0.
- Ridpath, Ian; Tirion, Wil (2001), Stars and Planets Guide, Princeton University Press, ISBN 0-691-08913-2
- Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). Stars and Planets Guide, Collins, London. ISBN 978-0-00-725120-9. Princeton University Press, Princeton. ISBN 978-0-691-13556-4.
Other websites
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